Rio de Janeiro (AFP)

Paris star striker SG Neymar will not be part of the squad that will defend Brazil's gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but 38-year-old Daniel Alves has been called in to bring a touch of experience to the Hopes of the Seleçao.

Parisian defender Marquinhos, who, like Neymar, won the Olympic title in Rio in 2016, is also absent from the list announced Thursday by coach André Jardine.

On the other hand, there are two other Ligue 1 players: midfielders Bruno Guimaraes (Lyon) and Gerson, new recruit from Olympique de Marseille.

Daniel Alves, who plays for Sao Paulo FC after collecting titles at Sevilla FC, Barcelona, ​​PSG and Juventus, is not in the squad of the main squad currently playing in the Copa América in Brazil, due to from a knee injury.

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But André Jardine hopes that he will be delivered in time for the debut of the Olympic Seleção at the Games in Tokyo, on July 22 against Germany, opponent of Brazil in the final of the Olympics-2016.

The regulations for the men's Olympic football tournament only allow three players over the age of 24 on each team.

Daniel Alves will have two other experienced players alongside him, goalkeeper Santos, 31, of Athletico Paranaense, and defender Diego Carlos, 28, of Sevilla.

Midfielder Douglas Luiz is the only one who will play two major tournaments with the Brazilian national team this summer: the Copa América and the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"We tried to avoid players being called up for both competitions, so as not to prejudice the clubs. Douglas is the only one to have had this privilege because he was our first captain, from the Toulon tournament, in 2019 "won by Brazil, explained the coach at a press conference.

For Neymar, Marquinhos and the other stars playing in Europe, the clubs have not agreed to sell their players, which is not an obligation, the Olympic tournament not being part of the official Fifa calendar.

"Neymar is a world reference, the great leader of the main selection. We would have liked him to be with us. But it was complicated that he played both the Copa America and the Olympics. That he was happy and wins the Copa América, "said Branco, ex-world champion full-back in 1994 and coordinator of Brazil's youth teams.

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5 years ago, Neymar scored the decisive goal that gave the Seleçao their first Olympic title against Germany, at the Maracana.

Half of the 18 players in the Olympic selection play for European clubs, including striker Antony, author of a good season with Ajax Amsterdam, or the former Bordeaux player Malcom, today at Zenith Saint-Petersburg. .

List of 18 Brazilian players for the Olympics:

Goalkeepers: Santos (Athletico Paranaense), Brenno (Grêmio)

Defenders: Nino (Fluminense), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal / ENG), Diego Carlos (Sevilla FC / ESP), Guilherme Arana (Atlético Mineiro), Gabriel Menino (Palmeiras), Daniel Alves (São Paulo).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Lyon / FRA), Gerson (Marseille / FRA), Claudinho (Red Bull Bragantino), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa / ENG), Matheus Henrique (Gremio).

Forwards: Antony (Ajax Amsterdam / NED), Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin / GER), Malcom (Zenith Saint Petersburg / RUS), Pedro (Flamengo), Paulinho (Bayer Leverkusen / GER).

© 2021 AFP